Coffee

The Evolution of the American Coffee Culture

November 24, 2014 by galaxie • Coffee • Tags: American, Coffee, Coffee Culture, Evolution, Galaxie Coffee • 0 Comments

The Evolution of the American Coffee Culture As far as commodities go, coffee is second only to oil in the global marketplace. In America, it is the beverage of choice as evidenced by the fact that we are the largest consumers of coffee per capita. However, how did we get here? Moreover, how has the coffee culture in this country evolved over the years? It all started with the American Revolution.

Americans were largely tea drinkers during the colonial period. The vast majority of colonists were of British heritage, and imported tea was relatively inexpensive. Then came the Boston tea party, when revolutionaries overran a fleet of ships in the Boston harbor in 1773, throwing an entire shipment of tea overboard. It was a protest against the unpopular Tea Act, which had imposed a tax on tea and gave the East India Company a virtual monopoly on tea imports.

From that point forward, consuming British tea was considered unpatriotic in the colonies. And because domestic tea production was almost nonexistent, coffee emerged as the replacement hot beverage. It has never looked back.

Post Revolution

America’s newly found freedom after the Revolution resulted in a culture desperate to break all ties with its imperial past. Coffee was now seen as an American beverage while tea was relegated to British loyalists. This gave rise to the cultivation of coffee here in the States and the start of our ‘official’ coffee culture.

With increased cultivation on American soil, the price of coffee began dropping through the early 19th century. Creative individuals also figured out new ways to roast, grind, and blend coffees to achieve different kinds of flavors. Slowly but surely, coffee was being transformed from just a hot beverage into a social drink. Coffee houses began opening in some of America’s largest cities, albeit in small numbers.

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution is responsible for catapulting coffee into its position as the world’s number two commodity. With industrialization came the ability to roast and grind coffee on a large enough scale to make it affordable for anyone. The Industrial Revolution also brought us mechanical grinders, electric percolators and, eventually, the fancy and highly technological equipment we use today.

The modern coffee culture we associate with the chic, urban coffeehouse can be traced back to Seattle in the early 1970s. The first Starbucks opened in 1971 amidst a number of competitors in the city’s Capitol Hill district. As a city with a cutting-edge technology industry and plenty of young, affluent residents, it was only natural that Seattle’s coffeehouse culture would spread across the United States en masse. Even our 21st-century love of gourmet coffees and designer flavors traces its roots back to Seattle.

Galaxie Coffee is thrilled to be part of an industry that is so vital to America’s culture and economy. As a leading office coffee service provider in the New York area, we do our best to stay on the cutting edge in order to meet the demands of our customers.

A Look at the Coffee Industry Horizon for 2015

November 10, 2014 by galaxie • Coffee • Tags: Brewing Equipment, Coffee, Coffee Industry, Coffee Prices, Espresso Drinks, Galaxie Coffee • 0 Comments

A Look at the Coffee Industry Horizon for 2015 With the arrival of November and the annual holiday season, consumers are looking at closing the books on 2014 and starting afresh in 2015. We are expecting some interesting changes in the coming year for the coffee industry. Some of those changes are expected, others will be a surprise. One thing will not change – America’s love of coffee in any form.

Americans are the largest consumers of coffee in the world. Coffee is our morning wake-up beverage, our fuel to get through the workday, and the beverage of choice for social gatherings. That will stay the same. However, there are changes on the horizon:

1. Coffee Prices

Coffee prices reached a nearly three-year high last month thanks, in part, to severe drought in Brazil that has taken out nearly 10% of the coffee crop. Brazilian government officials say next year’s crop could end up being weak as well. The news has pushed the price of coffee futures ever higher, which, in the end, results in higher prices at the retail level. Unfortunately, we will all be paying more next year for our favorite caffeine beverage.

2. Brewing Equipment

Throughout 2014, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of single cup brewers both at home and the office and a correlating decrease in the use of drip brewers. Surveys released over the summer suggest that trend will continue into 2015. People love single cup brewers because of the convenience and flavor choices; they are willing to pay more for both the equipment and coffee in order to make brewing as convenient as possible.

We expect the demand for single cup machines to continue rising in the office coffee industry, though not as quickly as the demand for them in homes. Companies paying for office coffee programs are less likely to absorb the extra cost of single cup brewing. We believe traditional drip brewers will remain strong for office coffee. In fact we are seeing a resurgence in brewing pots of coffee in offices due mainly to taste preferences and sustainability issues. Call us at 631-694-2688 to talk about this and Kitten Coffee, our new high-end coffee product.

3. Espresso Drinks

The National Coffee Association says the daily consumption of espresso drinks has risen from 13% to 18% over the last year. They expect that trend to continue and so do we. Espresso is the new, trendy coffee drink among those who use their choice of beverages to make a statement. The only question is how much consumers will be willing to pay if retail prices spike in response to demand.

The coffee industry horizon also looks favorable to flavored coffees, nontraditional creamers, and better pairings of coffee drinks and pastries for morning commuters. It does not look good for straight, non-flavored coffees and the neighborhood coffee shop. As far as coffee shops go, today’s coffee drinkers are more about drive-through and less about sit-down and long lines.

At Galaxie Coffee, we will continue watching the trends in order to provide the best possible service to our customers. We offer office coffee, bottled water, and a full range of juices and teas to customers throughout the New York area.

Interesting Facts About Where Coffee Comes From

August 26, 2014 by galaxie • Coffee • Tags: Beans, Coffee, Galaxie Coffee, Interesting Facts • 0 Comments

Interesting Facts About Where Coffee Comes From You probably haven’t given much thought to where coffee comes from, except when you’re running late and don’t know whether you’ll have time to stop for your morning brew. That aside, you probably take for granted the fact that coffee will always be there when you want it.

It turns out there is quite a bit involved in growing and producing the roasted products you find on the grocery store shelf. It all starts with the coffee beans chosen for a particular blend and where these are grown.

Producing the perfect coffee bean requires the right combination of soil, sunshine, and moisture. However, these things vary so much that it is nearly impossible to create two crops that taste exactly alike. That is one of the reasons roasters blend a variety of beans to produce the distinctive flavors that bear their names.

Two Primary Beans

There are two primary beans responsible for the majority of the coffee consumed around the world. The first, and most common, is the Arabica bean. Arabica accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s coffee; it is available in a number of different varieties directly descending from the oldest known coffee trees in Ethiopia.

The other bean is known as a Robusta. This bean is smaller than the Arabica, but it packs a greater punch – between 50 and 60% more caffeine. Robusta production around the world is increasing thanks to its ability to thrive in warmer climates and the fact that it is less expensive to grow and process. You are familiar with the unique taste of Robusta if you use instant coffee.

Where It Comes From

The best coffees are grown in climates that are near, or at, the equator. That is where you will find the right combination of temperature, sun and moisture. It is also where you will find the best soils. According to the National Coffee Association USA, coffee beans are grown in more than 50 countries around the world.

In North America, coffee production is limited primarily to Mexico. As far as American blends are concerned, the best come from Hawaii. You have had Hawaiian coffee if you’ve enjoyed a Kona blend. Meanwhile, a once robust coffee industry in Puerto Rico is making a comeback after years of dormancy.

Central and South America are where we get most of the coffee sold in the US. The best-known country is Colombia, where growers and government officials take pride in producing what they believe is the finest in the world. Other Central and South American coffee producers include Costa Rica, Guatemala and Brazil.

Africa and the Middle East provide some excellent coffee beans from Ethiopia, Kenya, the Ivory Coast and Yemen. It turns out that the Yemen was the first place coffee was commercially produced. Unfortunately, a sustained lack of water has greatly reduced Yemen’s output.

Lastly, we cannot leave out Vietnam and Indonesia. These countries also contribute significantly to global coffee production. Now that you know more about where coffee comes from, consider giving Galaxie a call. We provide our customers with the finest coffee and beverage service in the New York area.

Coffees of the World – Part 2

July 18, 2014 by galaxie • Coffee • Tags: Coffee, coffee service, Coffees of the World, Galaxie Coffee • 0 Comments

Coffees of the World – Part 2 There really is nothing like a good cup of coffee, is there not? Perhaps that is one of the reasons coffee is one of the most popular hot beverages in the world. How popular is it? The latest estimates suggests as many as 10 million tons of coffee are consumed every year.

The wonderful thing about coffee is the variety available to consumers. In the first part of this four-part series, we talked about some of the varieties cultivated on the African continent. In part two, we will discuss coffees from Indonesia and the Caribbean. Needless to say, there is no shortage of choices for coffee lovers.

Coffees of Indonesia

Indonesia is both a country and an archipelago consisting of more than 13,400 islands stretching from the eastern Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific, located in Southeast Asia. Its 33 provinces are incredibly diverse thanks to its rich trading history and hundreds of years of colonialism. Some of Indonesia’s most loved coffees are:

Sulawesi – The island of Sulawesi is a mountainous island in the Malay Archipelago off the coast of Borneo. Their coffee is smooth, full-bodied, lightly acidic and with a very earthy flavor. Some people describe it as being ‘bright’.

Sumatra – Coffee from Sumatra is a truly unique experience. You will notice it is different right away, due to its syrupy consistency and unusually dark, blue-green color. As for the flavor, Sumatran coffee tastes slightly chocolate-like. The flavor is very smooth, rich, and deep.

Timor – Timor is an island at the eastern edge of the archipelago divided into eastern and western regions. The western region is part of Indonesia while the eastern region is independent. Regardless, their coffee is one of the best-kept secrets of Indonesia. Timorese coffee is grown organically and dry processed. Moreover, although it has an earthy taste, it is slightly sweet. It can be musty, however.

Javanese – Among all of the cultural groups in Indonesia, the Javanese are the most popular. Their coffee is also the most popular in the region. It is wet processed for a less earthy taste; the flavor is less acidic and smoother.

That about sums up coffee from Indonesia. You might consider trying them if you are looking for something unique.

Coffees of the Caribbean

The islands of the Caribbean are mostly known for sugarcane and rum. Yet they actually have some very exciting coffees. Here are two of our favorites:

Jamaica – The most well known coffee from the Caribbean is Jamaican Blue Mountain. Genuine Blue Mountain is mild, smooth, and well balanced. It is the most expensive coffee in the world with a price that can be as much as 20 times higher than other coffees.

Puerto Rico – The Yauco variety from Puerto Rico is said to be as good as Blue Mountain. Nevertheless, since Yauco is not nearly as well known as Blue Mountain, the price is considerably lower. This is a great option if you want to try Caribbean coffee without paying an arm and a leg. Yauco is rich, smooth, and slightly sweet and fruity.

This concludes our tour of coffees from Indonesia and the Caribbean. The third part in this series will take a look at coffees from Central and South America. Coffees from these regions are what we consume most of here in the United States.

In the meantime, we hope you’ll consider Galaxie Coffee for your office coffee service. We have been proudly serving businesses and organizations in the New York Metro region with the best coffee, water and beverage service since 1969.

Coffees of the World – Part 1

July 14, 2014 by galaxie • Coffee • Tags: Coffee, Coffees of the World, Galaxie Coffee • 0 Comments

Coffees of the World – Part 1 “Joe”, “Java”, and “wake-up juice” – we have a lot of names to describe our morning beverage of rich coffee bean flavor and a healthy dose of caffeine. However, no matter what you call it coffee is one of the most popular hot beverages in the world. Some form of the drink is served nearly anywhere you go.

As one of the leading coffee service providers in the New York Metro area, we want to help you better understand the global phenomenon that is coffee. Therefore, we have put together a four-part series designed to introduce you to the coffees of the world. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are looking for a coffee service provider. We offer a full line of coffees, teas, bottled water, and other beverages.

The Keys to Coffee Flavor

Before we get to the different coffees of the world, it is important to understand what gives coffee its flavor. There are four things that determine what coffee tastes like, above and beyond adding things like cream, sugar, and coffee liqueurs:

Berry Variety – There are two main types of coffee berries that account for most of the worldwide production: arabica and robusta. The former is preferred because it has more flavor and is less bitter. And just for the record, there are hundreds of regional varieties of both arabica and robusta.

Processing – After coffee berries have been harvested, they can be processed according to either a wet or a dry method. Wet processing involves washing the berries; dry processing does not. Dry processed coffee has more of an earthy, gamy taste.

Roasting – The roasting process is where it all comes together. The key to roasting the berries is the amount of time they are under heat. Roasting reduces acidity and adds a new dimension of flavor, much the same way charcoal grilling adds flavor to meat. Some roasters add additional flavorings during the roasting process.

Blending – Lastly, roasters will often blend multiple regional varieties to produce a unique kind of coffee that they can put their brand name on. For example, a blend might include arabica from Columbia, Mexico and Panama.

Now that you know what gives coffee its flavor, let’s talk about some of the best coffees from around the world. You might want to go fill your cup before we get started.

Coffees of Africa

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee, so that is where we will start. The interesting thing about Ethiopian coffee is the incredible number of regional varieties. One of the favorites is Yergacheffe, a light and fruity coffee from southern Ethiopia.

Here are a few other favorites from the African continent:

Yemen – Yemenis dispute the fact that Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee. Nonetheless, coffee from Yemen is very strong and earthy. The berries are allowed to grow wild and are dry processed upon harvest.

Zambia – Though the industry is relatively new in Zambia, their coffee production has really matured in recent years. Zambian coffee tends to be less acidic and softer than other African coffees, but the flavor is very rich.

Tanzania – Most of the coffee grown in Tanzania is cultivated on Mount Kilimanjaro alongside bananas. The flavor is unique because of it. One of the most popular Tanzanian varieties in the U.S. is known as peaberry; a variety characterized by each berry having only a single bean rather than the normal two.

We hope that we have whet your appetite for some new, more unusual coffees for you to taste. In part two of this series, we will look at coffees from Indonesia and the Caribbean.

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